Multicylinder engine for a vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same

• US 20080236520A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Maehara, Hayato, Tsukui, Takaaki, Saito, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/52.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/0532 the cams being directly in contact with the driven valve
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/143 for use with overhead camshafts
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 13/0005 Deactivating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/0537 Double overhead camshafts [DOHC]
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/3443 Solenoid driven oil control valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2001/3444 Oil filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2013/001 Deactivating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2800/08 Timing or lift different for valves of different cylinders

Abstract

A multicylinder engine for a motorcycle includes a valve actuation mechanism having a hydraulically-operated valve pausing mechanism for holding at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of selected cylinders in a suspended state. The valve actuation mechanism operates the intake valve and the exhaust valve, and controls flow of oil through an oil passage which introduces working oil to the valve pausing mechanism from a hydraulic-pressure control device. Air-bleeding holes are formed in the cylinder head. The air-bleeding holes are fluidly connected with portions of the oil passages that are located at a highest level in the oil passages while the motorcycle is parked in an inclined state with its side stand down.

Claims

1. A multicylinder engine for a motorcycle, said engine installed on the motorcycle and having a parking stand disposed on one side thereof, said multicylinder engine comprising

a plurality of cylinders;

a cylinder head having an oil passage and an air-bleeding hole formed therein;

said air-bleeding hole operatively connected with said oil passage;

an intake valve and an exhaust valve disposed in the cylinder head for each of said plurality of cylinders;

the intake valve and the exhaust valve being openable and closable during engine operation;

a valve actuation mechanism comprising a hydraulically-operated valve pausing mechanism configured to hold at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve of at least one of said plurality of cylinders in a suspended state, wherein said at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is held closed, depending on the operational state of the engine;

a hydraulic-pressure control device for controlling hydraulic pressure of the valve pausing mechanism;

wherein said valve actuation mechanism controls operation of said intake valve and said exhaust valve, and said oil passage for introducing working oil to the valve pausing mechanism from the hydraulic-pressure control device controlling the hydraulic pressure of the valve pausing mechanism; and

wherein said air-bleeding hole formed in the cylinder head communicates with a portion of the oil passage located at a highest level in the oil passage when the motorcycle is parked in an inclined state using said parking stand.

2. A multicylinder engine according to claim 1, wherein said air-bleeding hole formed in the cylinder head is in communication with an end portion of the oil passage.

3. A multicylinder engine according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder head comprises a lifter hole plate having an inlet hole, said oil passage and said air-bleeding hole formed therein;

wherein said inlet hole introduces the working oil from the hydraulic-pressure control device into the oil passage; and

wherein said inlet hole is disposed adjacent to one of two opposite end portions of the oil passage and communicates therewith; and

the air-bleeding hole is disposed adjacent to the other end portion of the oil passage and communicates therewith.

4. A multicylinder engine according to claim 2, wherein said cylinder head comprises a lifter hole plate having an inlet hole, said oil passage and said air-bleeding hole formed therein;

wherein said inlet hole introduces the working oil from the hydraulic-pressure control device into the oil passage; and

wherein said inlet hole one is disposed adjacent to one of two opposite end portions of the oil passage and communicates therewith and the air-bleeding hole is disposed adjacent to the other end portion of the oil passage and communicates therewith.

5. A multicylinder engine according to claim 1, wherein said one side is a left side in a transverse direction of the motorcycle.

6. An engine for a motorcycle, said engine comprising

a plurality of in-line cylinders;

a cylinder head having a cylinder head body and a lifter hole plate connected to the cylinder head body;

said lifter hole plate having an oil passage and an air-bleeding hole formed therein;

said air-bleeding hole being operatively connected with said oil passage;

an intake valve and an exhaust valve disposed in the cylinder head for each of said plurality of cylinders;

a hydraulically-operated valve pausing device which holds at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve of selective one of said plurality of cylinders in a suspended state by closing said at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; and

a hydraulic-pressure control device for controlling hydraulic pressure of the valve pausing device;

wherein said oil passage is operatively connected to the valve pausing mechanism and supplies oil thereto; and

wherein said air-bleeding hole communicate with portion of the oil passage located at a highest level in the oil passage when the engine is tilted on one side in a transverse direction thereof.

7. An engine for a motorcycle according to claim 6, wherein said transverse direction extends from left side to right side when the engine is mounted on said motorcycle.

8. An engine for a motorcycle according to claim 6, wherein the air-bleeding hole formed in the lifter hole plate fluidly communicates with an end portion of the oil passage.

9. An engine for a motorcycle according to claim 6, further comprising said lifter hole plate having an inlet hole formed therein;

wherein said inlet hole introduces the working oil from the hydraulic-pressure control device into the oil passage; and

wherein said inlet hole fluidly communicates with one of two opposite end portions of the oil passage and the air-bleeding hole fluidly communicates with the other end portion of the oil passage.

10. An engine for a motorcycle according to claim 8, further comprising said lifter hole plate having an inlet hole formed therein;

wherein said inlet hole introduces the working oil from the hydraulic-pressure control device into the oil passage; and

wherein said inlet hole fluidly communicates with one of two opposite end portions of the oil passage; and

said air-bleeding hole fluidly communicates with the other end portion of the oil passage.

11. An engine for a motorcycle according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of in-line cylinders is four;

and wherein said selective one of said plurality of cylinders which are suspended include two cylinders at the two opposite ends of the in-line cylinders.

12. A motorcycle comprising an engine and a parking stand adapted to park the motorcycle in an inclined position in a transverse direction thereof;

said engine comprising

a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders arranged in the transverse direction of the motorcycle;

a cylinder head connected to the cylinder block;

said cylinder head having an oil passage and an air-bleeding hole formed therein;

said air-bleeding hole being fluidly connected with said oil passage;

an intake valve and an exhaust valve disposed in the cylinder head for each of said plurality of cylinders;

a hydraulically-operated valve pausing device configured to hold at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve of selective one of said plurality of cylinders in a suspended state to suspend operation of said selective one of said plurality of cylinders;

a hydraulic-pressure control device for controlling hydraulic pressure of the valve pausing device;

wherein said oil passage is operatively connected to the valve pausing mechanism and supplies oil thereto via said a hydraulic-pressure control device; and

wherein said air-bleeding hole communicate with portion of the oil passage located at a highest level in the oil passage when said engine is tilted while the motorcycle is parked leaning on one side in the transverse direction using the parking stand.

13. A motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said one side is a left side.

14. A motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said one side is a right side.

15. A motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said air-bleeding hole fluidly communicates with an end portion of the oil passage.

16. A motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said cylinder head comprises a lifter hole plate having said oil passage and said air-bleeding hole formed therein.

17. A motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said cylinder head comprises a lifter hole plate having an inlet hole, said oil passage and said air-bleeding hole formed therein;

wherein said inlet hole introduces the working oil from the hydraulic-pressure control device into the oil passage; and

wherein said inlet hole fluidly communicates with one of two opposite end portions of the oil passage and the air-bleeding hole fluidly communicates with the other end portion of the oil passage.

18. A motorcycle according to claim 12, wherein said cylinder head comprises a lifter hole plate having said oil passage and said air-bleeding hole formed therein;

and wherein said lifter hole plate extends in said transverse direction of the motorcycle.

19. A motorcycle according to claim 15, wherein said cylinder head comprises a lifter hole plate having an inlet hole, said oil passage and said air-bleeding hole formed therein;

wherein said inlet hole introduces the working oil from the hydraulic-pressure control device into the oil passage; and

wherein said inlet hole fluidly communicates with one of two opposite end portions of the oil passage and the air-bleeding hole fluidly communicates with the other end portion of the oil passage.

20. A motorcycle according to claim 19, wherein said lifter hole plate extends in said transverse direction.